Handbag with inter-changeable decorative panels system

ABSTRACT

A handbag with inter-changeable decorative panels system comprising a handbag having an exterior with a first side, a second side, a first end, a second end, a bottom, an interior, at least one changeable color panel having, a front side and a back side. A hook and loop fastening system allows a user to easily remove a panel on the second side (outer side) and replace it with a panel of a user-preferred color or design to match an outfit. The second side surface may have a rectangular recess for nestibly mounting the inter-changeable panel even with the exterior of the second surface. The handbag may have at least one shoulder strap for carrying the handbag and the first end and the second end are flexible such that the first end and the second end are collapsible and expandable to change the inner volume to a user desired inner volume.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present applications are related to and claims priority from priorprovisional application Ser. No. 61/466,677, filed Mar. 23, 2011 whichapplications are incorporated herein by reference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understandingthe present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of theinformation provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presentlydescribed or claimed inventions, or that any publication or documentthat is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of hand bags andmore specifically relates to a handbag with inter-changeable panels.

2. Description of the Related Art

The modem woman's attire most often includes a handbag, or purse. Apurse or handbag is a medium to large bag that is often fashionablydesigned, typically used by women, to hold personal items such as awallet or coins, keys, cosmetics, a hairbrush, pepper spray, cigarettes,mobile phone, etc. The modern woman typically will have at least onepurse. Women who regularly dress fashionably, and those that do at leaston occasion, most often have several purses of various sizes anddiffering colors or design to fit most occasions and to match theclothes being worn. Purses can be designed to fit casual dress and dailytravel, or be designed for more formal occasions. Purse sizes tend toget larger when the travel distance is greater and for a longer periodof time than usual, and smaller the more formal the occasion gets.Purses are also manufactured of various materials and can range in pricefrom a few dollars to more than several hundred dollars. Women mostoften will have a favorite purse that is of a size that will hold all ofher personal items comfortably, but will find the purse doesn't seem tomatch what she is wearing for a particular outing. She will then emptythe favorite purse and try to pack the items into a different purse thatwill color-match the clothes she will be wearing, only to discover thateverything won't fit. She will then have to choose what gets left athome and what gets taken.

Purses can be very expensive, and especially so, the more fashionable orformal. In today's economy of high unemployment and skyrocketing costs,having a large selection of various colors and types of purses may notbe practical for most women. Lower and middle class homes are of a sizethat is usually sufficient for practical living, but typically, storagespace is very limited and having a large selection of purses is just notfeasible. The result is that women will own one or two purses, but willhave to go out to buy a new one for special events. A cost-effectivesolution for the aforementioned problems is desirable.

Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problemssuch as those found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,533,558; 7,222,649; 6,129,126;6,029,723; 7,789,114; and 5,207,254. This prior art is representative ofpurses. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly orin combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed.

Ideally, a purse should be affordably priced, suitably sized, and yet,would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, aneed exists for a reliable handbag with inter-changeable decorativepanels system to easily and inexpensively alter the appearance to matchwomen's outfits, and to avoid the above-mentioned problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known exteriorpanel changeable purses art, the present invention provides a novelhandbag with inter-changeable decorative panels system. The generalpurpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequentlyin greater detail, is to provide easily and inexpensively changedexterior purse panels while minimizing storage space.

Disclosed is a handbag with an inter-changeable panel system in apreferred embodiment comprising a handbag having an exterior, theexterior with a first side, a second side, a first end, a second end, abottom, an interior, at least one changeable color panel (having a frontside and a back side), a fastening system, at least one shoulder strapfor carrying the handbag, and a handbag opening closer for accessing theinterior of the handbag. The first side, the second side, the first end,the second end, and the bottom define the interior and the exterior ofthe handbag and the first end and the second end are flexible such thatthe first end and the second end are collapsible and expandable tochange the inner volume to a user desired inner volume.

The changeable color panel is defined by the front side and the backside. The at least one changeable color panel is removably affixable tothe exterior of the handbag via a fastening system. The changeable colorpanel(s) are substantially similar in size and shape to a recess locatedon the exterior (second side) of the handbag such that the at least onechangeable color panel nestibly and removably couples with the exteriorof the handbag via the fastening system in the recess(es) of theexterior of the handbag (flush-mount.) The front side of the changeablecolor panel(s) comprise at least one fashion design and at least onecolor and a user is able to replace the changeable color panels on thefront side of the handbag with an inter-changeable panel system to auser-preferred fashion design and color such that the user is theme andcolor coordinated with a user-worn clothing style and color.

The fastening system may comprise hook and loop fasteners; the hookfasteners located on the exterior of the handbag and the loop fastenerslocated on the back side of the changeable color panel(s). The hookfasteners are non-removably affixed to an upper right, an upper left, anupper middle, a lower right, a lower left, and a lower middle of therecessed area on the exterior of the handbag. The loop fasteners arenon-removably affixed to an upper right, an upper left, an upper middle,a lower right, a lower left, and a lower middle of the back side of thechangeable color panel(s). The changeable color panel(s), when removablyaffixed into the recess on the exterior of the handbag, arenestibly-located substantially flush with the exterior around aperimeter of the recess. The hook fasteners of the fastening system aresewn to the exterior of the handbag and the loop fasteners areadhesively attached or sewn to the changeable color panel(s) inpreferred embodiments.

The changeable color panel(s) comprise four side-edges but in someembodiments, may have less than four side-edges. The handbag may beconstructed of cloth, or may be constructed of leather, or a combinationof the two, and may be mixed as preferred by a user. The panels andhandbag may comprise various suitable materials. The shoulder strap(s)comprise hand carrying straps or shoulder carrying straps. The hand bagopening closer may comprise a zipper, but may comprise a flap-overhaving a slot and turn-lock latch system, yet in other embodiments, thehandbag opening closer comprises a hook and loop fastener assembly. Incertain embodiments, the hand bag may have an open top with no latchingsystem.

A method of use for a handbag with an inter-changeable panel system maycomprising the steps of uncoupling a first changeable color panel from asecond side of a handbag, coupling a second changeable color panel tothe second side of the handbag, and using the handbag.

The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as ahandbag with inter-changeable decorative panels system. For purposes ofsummarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novelfeatures of the invention have been described herein. It is to beunderstood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved inaccordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus,the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achievesor optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught hereinwithout necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught orsuggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to benovel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in theconcluding portion of the specification. These and other features,aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following drawings and detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specificationillustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention,handbag with an inter-changeable panel system, constructed and operativeaccording to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating an in-use condition of ahandbag with an inter-changeable panel system according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating handbags with aninter-changeable panel system with the panel removed according to anembodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the attaching of a changeablecolor panel according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG.1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating various design options forchangeable color panels according to an embodiment of the presentinvention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of use of a handbag with aninter-changeable panel system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention of FIGS. 1-4.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein likedesignations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to ahandbag and more particularly to a handbag with inter-changeable panelsas used to improve the versatility of a handbag and to increase thegeneral cost-effectiveness of owning fashion accessories.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown inFIG. 1, a perspective view illustrating an in-use condition of handbagwith inter-changeable panel system 100 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Handbag with inter-changeable panel system 100 may comprise handbag 102.Handbag 102 preferably comprises an exterior with first side 104, secondside 106, first end 108, second end 110, bottom 112, interior 114, atleast one changeable color panel 120 having front side 122 and back side124, fastening system 130, at least one shoulder strap 140 for carryinghandbag 102, and handbag opening closer 150 for accessing interior 114of handbag.

First side 104, second side 106, first end 108, second end 110, andbottom 112 define interior 114 and exterior 116 of handbag 102.Changeable color panel 120 is defined by front side 122 and back side124. At least one changeable color panel 120 is removably affixed(affixable) to exterior 116 of handbag 102 via fastening system 130 andmay be substantially similar in size and shape to recess(es) 170 locatedon exterior 116 of handbag 102 such that at least one changeable colorpanel 120 nestibly and removably couples with exterior 116 of handbag102 via fastening system 130 in recess(es)170 of exterior 116 of handbag102. Front side 122 of at least one changeable color panel 120 comprisesat least one fashion design and at least one color, and a user is ableto replace at least one changeable color panel 120 on front side 122 ofhandbag 102 with inter-changeable panel system 100 to a user-preferredfashion design and at least one color such that a user is theme andcolor coordinated with a user-worn clothing style and color.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a perspective view illustrating handbag withinter-changeable panel system 100 with the changeable color panel 120removed according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

Fastening system 130 may comprise hook and loop fasteners 180, hookfasteners 182 preferably located on exterior 116 of handbag 102 and loopfasteners 184 located on back side 124 of changeable color panel(s) 120.Loop fasteners 184 may be adhesively attached to changeable colorpanel(s) 120 or may be sewed onto fabric. Changeable color panel(s) 120,when removably affixed into recess(es) 170 on exterior 116 of handbag102, may be nestibly-located substantially flush with exterior 116around a perimeter of recess(es) 170. Changeable color panel(s) 120 maycomprise four side-edges 199 but in other embodiments, may comprise lessthan four side-edges 199. Shoulder strap(s) 140 comprise carryingstraps. The preferred embodiment has two shoulder straps 140 that mayalso be used as hand carrying straps.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a perspective view illustrating the attachingof changeable color panel(s) 120 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention of FIG. 1.

Handbag 102 may comprise a cloth or may comprise leather or acombination of the two or other suitable equivalent materials. Hookfasteners 182 may be non-removably affixed to upper right 200, upperleft 205, upper middle 210, lower right 215, lower left 220, and lowermiddle 225 of recess(es) 170 on exterior 116 of handbag 102 in preferredembodiments. Loop fasteners 184 may be non-removably affixed to upperright 200, upper left 205, upper middle 210, lower right 215, lower left220, and lower middle 225 of back side 124 of at least one changeablecolor panel(s) 120. First end 108 and second end 110 are flexible suchthat first end 108 and second end 110 are collapsible and expandable tochange inner volume to a user desired inner volume size. Hook fasteners182 of fastening system 130 may be sewn to exterior 116 of handbag 102in the preferred embodiment.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a perspective view illustrating various designoptions for changeable color panels according to an embodiment of thepresent invention of FIG. 1. Handbag opening closer 230 may comprise azipper or may comprise a flap-over having a slot and turn-lock latchsystem. In some embodiments, handbag opening closer 230 comprises a hookand loop fastener(s) 180 assembly. In yet another embodiment, handbag102 comprises an open top having no latching system. Other fasteningmeans may be used.

Handbag with inter-changeable panel system 100 according to anembodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-4, may be sold as kit 450comprising the following parts: at least one handbag 102; changeablecolor panel(s) 120; and a set of user instructions. Handbag withinter-changeable panel system 100 may be manufactured and provided forsale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment ofapplications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciatedthat, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as designpreference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structuralrequirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., otherkit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more orless components, customized parts, different color combinations, partsmay be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.

Referring now to FIG. 5, showing a flowchart illustrating a method ofuse 500 for handbag with inter-changeable panel system 100 according toan embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-4.

A method of use 500 for handbag with inter-changeable panel system 100may comprise the steps of: step one 501 uncoupling a first changeablecolor panel(s) 120 from second side 106 of handbag 102; step two 502coupling a second changeable color panel(s) 120 to second side 106 ofhandbag 102 ; and step three 503 using handbag 102.

It should be noted that steps 501 and 502 are optional steps and may notbe implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method 500 areillustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 5 so as to distinguish them fromthe other steps of method 500.

It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can becarried out in many different orders according to user preference. Uponreading this specification, it should be appreciated that, underappropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference,user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements,available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of usearrangements such as, for example, different orders withinabove-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps,including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may besufficient.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary andnumerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readilyenvisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which areintended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention.Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application.

1. A handbag with inter-changeable panel system comprising: a handbagcomprising; an exterior having; a first side; a second side; a firstend; a second end; and a bottom; and an interior; at least onechangeable color panel having; a front side; and a back side; afastening system; at least one shoulder strap for carrying said handbag;and a handbag opening closer for accessing said interior of saidhandbag; wherein said first side, said second side, said first end, saidsecond end, and said bottom define said interior and said exterior ofsaid handbag; wherein said changeable color panel is defined by saidfront side and said back side; wherein said at least one changeablecolor panel is removably affixed to said exterior of said handbag viasaid fastening system; wherein said at least one changeable color panelis substantially similar in size and shape to recesses located on saidexterior of said handbag such that said at least one changeable colorpanel nestibly removably couples with said exterior of said handbag viasaid fastening system in said recess(es) of said exterior of saidhandbag; wherein said front side of said at least one changeable colorpanel comprises at least one fashion design and at least one color; andwherein a user is able to replace said at least one changeable colorpanel on said front side of said handbag with inter-changeable panelsystem to a user-preferred said at least one fashion design and said atleast one color such that said user is theme and color coordinated witha user-worn clothing style and color.
 2. The handbag withinter-changeable panel system of claim 1 wherein said fastening systemcomprises hook and loop fasteners, said hook fasteners located on saidexterior of said handbag and said loop fasteners located on said backside of said changeable color panel(s).
 3. The handbag withinter-changeable panel system of claim 1 wherein said at least onechangeable color panel when removably affixed into said recess on saidexterior of said handbag, said at least one changeable color panel isnestibly-located substantially flush with a said exterior around aperimeter of said recess.
 4. The handbag with inter-changeable panelsystem of claim 1 wherein said at least one shoulder strap comprisescarrying straps.
 5. The handbag with inter-changeable panel system ofclaim 1 wherein said handbag opening closer comprises a zipper.
 6. Thehandbag with inter-changeable panel system of claim 5 wherein saidopening closer comprises a flap-over having a slot and turn-lock latchsystem.
 7. The handbag with inter-changeable panel system of claim 5wherein said handbag opening closer comprises a hook and loop fastenerassembly.
 8. The handbag with inter-changeable panel system of claim 1wherein said at least one changeable color panel comprises fourside-edges.
 9. The handbag with inter-changeable panel system of claim 8wherein said at least one changeable color panel comprises less thanfour side-edges.
 10. The handbag with inter-changeable panel system ofclaim 1 wherein said handbag comprises cloth.
 11. The handbag withinter-changeable panel system of claim 10 wherein said handbag comprisesleather.
 12. The handbag with inter-changeable panel system of claim 2wherein said hook fasteners are non-removably affixed to an upper right,an upper left, an upper middle, a lower right, a lower left, and a lowermiddle of said recess on said exterior of said handbag.
 13. The handbagwith inter-changeable panel system of claim 2 wherein said loopfasteners are non-removably affixed to an upper right, an upper left, anupper middle, a lower right, a lower left, and a lower middle of backside of said at least one changeable color panel.
 14. The handbag withinter-changeable panel system of claim 1 wherein said hand bag comprisesan open top having no latching system.
 15. The handbag withinter-changeable panel system of claim 1 wherein said first end and saidsecond end are flexible such that said first end and said second end arecollapsible and expandable to change said inner volume to a user desiredsaid inner volume.
 16. The handbag with inter-changeable panel system ofclaim 2 wherein said hook fasteners of said fastening system are sewn tosaid exterior of said handbag.
 17. The handbag with inter-changeablepanel system of claim 2 wherein said loop fasteners are adhesivelyattached to said changeable color panel(s).
 18. A handbag withinter-changeable panel system comprising: a handbag comprising; anexterior having; a first side; a second side; a first end; a second end;and a bottom; an interior; at least one changeable color panel having; afront side; and a back side; a fastening system; at least one shoulderstrap for carrying said handbag; and a handbag opening closer foraccessing said interior of said handbag; wherein said first side, saidsecond side, said first end, said second end, and said bottom definesaid interior and said exterior of said handbag; wherein said first endand said second end are flexible such that said first end and saidsecond end are collapsible and expandable to change said inner volume toa user desired said inner volume; wherein said changeable color panel isdefined by said front side and said back side; wherein said at least onechangeable color panel is removably affixed to said exterior of saidhandbag via said fastening system; wherein said at least one changeablecolor panel is substantially similar in size and shape to recesseslocated on said exterior of said handbag such that said at least onechangeable color panel nestibly removably couples with said exterior ofsaid handbag via said fastening system in said recess(es) of saidexterior of said handbag; wherein said front side of said at least onechangeable color panel comprises at least one fashion design and atleast one color; wherein said fastening system comprises hook and loopfasteners, said hook fasteners located on said exterior of said handbagand said loop fasteners located on said back side of said changeablecolor panel(s); wherein said hook fasteners are non-removably affixed toan upper right, an upper left, an upper middle, a lower right, a lowerleft, and a lower middle of said recess on said exterior of saidhandbag; wherein said loop fasteners are non-removably affixed to anupper right, an upper left, an upper middle, a lower right, a lowerleft, and a lower middle of back side of said at least one changeablecolor panel; wherein said at least one changeable color panel whenremovably affixed into said recess on said exterior of said handbag,said at least one changeable color panel is nestibly-locatedsubstantially flush with a said exterior around a perimeter of saidrecess; wherein said hook fasteners of said fastening system are sewn tosaid exterior of said handbag; wherein said loop fasteners areadhesively attached to said changeable color panel(s); wherein said atleast one changeable color panel comprises four side-edges; wherein saidhandbag comprises cloth; wherein said at least one shoulder strapcomprises carrying straps; wherein said handbag opening closer comprisesa zipper; wherein said opening closer comprises a flap-over having aslot and turn-lock latch system; wherein said handbag opening closercomprises a hook and loop fastener assembly; wherein said hand bagcomprises an open top having no latching system; and wherein a user isable to replace said at least one changeable color panel on said frontside of said handbag with inter-changeable panel system to auser-preferred said at least one fashion design and said at least onecolor such that said user is theme and color coordinated with auser-worn clothing style and color.
 19. The handbag withinter-changeable panel system of claim 18 comprising a kit including:said handbag; and said at least one changeable color panel(s).
 20. Amethod of use for a handbag with inter-changeable panel systemcomprising the steps of: uncoupling a first changeable color panel froma second side of a handbag; coupling a second changeable color panel tosaid second side of said handbag; and using said handbag.